Helen Mirren takes the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell for a spin

Award-winning actor Helen Mirren and director Taylor Hackford hit the road and share about their experience driving the zero-emissions Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle. To learn more, check out http://www.chevrolet.com/experience/fuel-solutions/fuel-cell/ and http://www.thefutureiselectric.com/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Helen Mirren
• Taylor Hackford
• GM
• General Motors
• fuel cell
• hydrogen
• Chevy
• Chevrolet
• equinox
• alternative fuel
• vehicle
• car
• auto
• Project Driveway
• actor
• director
• environment
• zero emissions
• green
• electric car
• electric vehicle

[DanFrederiksen]

this is a truly disappointing video. Helen Mirren is no doubt clueless of the differences between BEV and FC car and she trusts GM. That's tragic but no doubt an honest mistake on her part. the concerning part is that GM is still evil enough to do this. they know better than this. surely. they know Steven Chu told fuel cells to get bent and killed all their funding. yet they still offer this romanticized lie. and to add insult to injury it's a wasteful SUV.

[DanFrederiksen]

@ethanisrael1 I trust you know chevron texaco bought NIMH patent and made sure only small cells were produced so they couldn't be used for cars. these are simple facts. there was a big push to kill electric cars in california and instead promote fuel cells.

I trust you have seen the documentary who killed the electric car?

who did you work for?

[DanFrederiksen]

@ethanisrael1 compared to FC sure. not compared to battery electric.

for one who claims technical insight you sure avoid actual data and hide in hand waving. let's hear some actual efficiency numbers from actual products that produce actual power levels.

and Shell is actively pushing hydroge fuel cells. they have refuelling stations with their name on. you know how many oil companies push electric cars? zero. the whole hydrogen fuel cell lie was started by the oil companies. noone else

[ethanisrael1]

Sometimes theres no evil conspiracy. These are very complex, subtle, and difficult problems to solve—problems that are more a product of history than of conspiracy. And yes, I have many degrees in science & engineering and I have directly researched both batteries and fuel cells. I can send you my thesis

[ethanisrael1]

Efficiency is only a small part of the many requirements that auto engineers must trade-off. When you weigh out the trade-offs of all the technologies out there, theres no clear winner and there probably never will be. Thats why I see them as complimentary rather than competitors.

[ethanisrael1]

Generally, hydrogen PEM FCs are less efficient than some types of batteries but how much is hotly debated. Other types of FCs are more efficient but are suited to different applications. Keep in mind that a good hybrid turbo diesel powertrain can also put up a strong showing in the efficiency category.

[ethanisrael1]

Hydrogen is not a primary energy source. If it is made from windmills, it is also very clean. If it is made from coal it is not. Same as electricity. In my experience working for car and battery companies, the oil companies are generally reluctant to embrace both FCs and batteries. Thats because they dont produce either hydrogen or electricity (directly). There are many hydrogen producers already in the US and around the world--and one of their biggest customers is oil refineries.

[DanFrederiksen]

@ethanisrael1 if they are funded by oil companies yes. otherwise, not so much.

why do you think oil companies have supported and pushed fuel cells..

because they are a viable alternative and will run nearly 100% on power from windmills..

[DanFrederiksen]

@ethanisrael1 I know they are both electrochemistry but batteries are above 90% efficient while fuel cells are what? 40-50% eficient?

and when you say researcher as a scientist, is that completely honest? or does that mean you have a degree in some other science and have researched by googling fuel cells?

one of the main killers is the pressure of storage, would you agree? the cost of the tank plus substantial energy loss in the compression of it. and I imagine transmission and transport of it

[ethanisrael1]

The video is pretty cheesy...

[ethanisrael1]

Usually, the people that speak with such certainty about a subject are the ones that are truly ignorant to the subtleties and complexities of that subject. Your factor of 3 rule uses some significant assumptions. Using other equally or even more reasonable assumptions that number could look very different. Every time I read a new study of this nature they come to a different conclusion.